Determinants of Adoption of Improved Wheat Varieties by Smallholder Farmers - In Case of kembata Zone central Ethiopia
Abera Abebe
Volume 1, Issue 1
Published: Octomber 28, 2025
Abstract
Adoption of improved technologies is one of the most promising ways to reduce food insecurity
in Ethiopia. However, adoptions of these technologies are constrained by various factors. This
study examined the main determinants of farmer adoption decision of improved wheat varieties
and its intensity using 120 sample households (106 male and 14 female) selected from 6
kebeles in Angacha Woreda, Kembata Tembaro zone. In this area, wheat is an important crop,
which serves as a source of both food and cash. Qualitative data were collected using group
discussion and field observation. The results of descriptive analysis indicated that among 12
identified explanatory variables 7 of them significantly determined adoption of improved wheat
varieties; such as farming experience, household head age, and cultivated land size, number
of oxen and livestock, input delivery institutions (market distance) and extension contact. The
results of the econometric model indicated that the relative influence of different variables on
probability and intensity of adoption of improved wheat varieties. Cultivated land size of the
household, extension contact, farming experience of the household, was affected adoption
positively: whereas market distance and age of the household head, negatively influenced
adoption and intensity of adoption of improved wheat varieties. Farmers‟ evaluation and
selection criteria of improved wheat varieties in the study area in order of importance were high
yielding, market demand, time of maturity, grain color, grain size, disease resistance and
storability. The overall finding of the study underlined the high importance of institutional
support in the areas of extension contact service to insist farmer-to-farmer knowledge sharing
and market to enhance adoption of improved wheat varieties. There is also need to consider
road construction; new weather roads and improving the existing one which connect kebele to
kebele.
Keywords
Adoption, Wheat, Improved Varieties, Intensity
Corresponding Author
Abera Abebe, Department of Agricultural Economics, Wolaita Sodo University, Ethiopia.
Citation
Abebe, A. (2025). Determinants of Adoption of Improved Wheat Varieties by Smallholder Farmers - In Case of kembata Zone central Ethiopia. Econ Dev Glob Mark, 1(1), 01-10.